[update] UConn football player dies after campus stabbing
Rhode Island runner Ryan Lawrence is brought down by Jasper Howard (6), Greg Lloyd (95) and Aaron Bagsby in the game against North Carolina. Jasper Howard died on Oct. 18, 2009 after being stabbed during a fight on the UConn campus. File photo © 2009 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com
[Editor's note, new information:
The stabbing victims, Jasper T. Howard and another as yet unnamed person were discovered on Hillside Road by a UConn Police officer after being informed of the fight. It was also disclosed today that Howard's girlfriend is pregnant with their child. A press conference on the tragedy was held at UConn this afternoon. A meeting with team members was held at 6 a.m. today (Oct. 18)]
As of noon on Sunday, Oct. 18 the person who stabbed and killed 20-year-old UConn student and football player, Jasper T. Howard, early this morning is still at large.
According to police and news media reports, Howard was rushed to St. Francis Hospital after an incident that occurred on campus at about 12:30 a.m.
The campus alert sent at about 3:30 a.m. via text messaging and email to students and UConn faculty by UConn Police states: “In the early morning hours of 10.18.09, a fight and stabbing occurred near Hillside Road in the center of Storrs campus. The perpetrator is still at large, whereabouts unknown. Police are actively investigating this incident and anyone with information is asked to contact the UConn Police at 860-486-4800.”
Most students learned about the incident, however, when it was reported this morning on UConn’s WHUS radio by an announcer reading from an online story posted by the Connecticut affiliate of NBC News.
The announcer was filling in for another staff member whose car had been impounded as police locked down areas of campus involved in the incident, including the Student Union where the WHUS studio is located.
According to NBC, Howard died at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford after he was flown from Windham Hospital.
UConn Junior and football player Jasper T. Howard. UConn photo.
Howard was stabbed during a fight that broke out in the area of the Student Union, where a social event was being held.
According to UConn Police Major Ronald Blicher, the fight began after someone pulled the fire alarm and the Student Union was evacuated.
According to the WHUS report, the field house across from the Student Union also has been sealed off by police, which suggests the fight may have continued at that location.
Howard was a junior at UConn and a starting cornerback from Miami.
NBC reported that there was a second stabbing victim, who has been treated and released from the hospital.
Police have not released the victim’s identity or confirmed whether this person is a student at UConn.
The State Police Major Crimes Unit is assisting UConn Police in the investigation.
Posted Oct. 18, 2009, updated at 7 p.m.
Related Link: UConn sports bio – Jasper Howard
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/howard_jasper00.html
3 Responses to “[update] UConn football player dies after campus stabbing”
this is shocking and tragic, such a young guy
Comment made on October 18th, 2009 at 3:18 pmThis is so sad, I just watched the Huskies win yesterday. Why would anyone do such a thing? My heart goes out to this young man’s family, friends, coaches, and his teammates.
No one should have their life taken by anyone else, especially at such a young age.
Comment made on October 18th, 2009 at 7:11 pmMy on-air radio name is Johnny Timewarp and I’ve been a DJ at UConn’s WHUS 91.7 FM since February 2008. My show “Dark Side of the Highway” airs on Sunday mornings from 4-6 AM and I am the WHUS “announcer” that is referred to in this article as being the one who broke the news over the air regarding Jasper Howard’s death…
Comment made on December 9th, 2011 at 2:23 am